The Book Thief

English language

Published June 15, 2006

ISBN:
978-0-375-83100-3
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4 stars (4 reviews)

Narrated by Death, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she discovers something she can't resist--books. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever they are to be found.

With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids, as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

Markus Zusak, award winning author of I Am the Messenger, has crafted an unforgettable novel about the ability of books to feed the soul. (front flap)

16 editions

Wet cardboard

3 stars

It's historical misery porn, your Angela's Ashes or Kite Runner sort of deal. It's a bit smug & condescending which is a lot since it's pretty clear the author had no idea how to end it & panicked. The main character is devoid of personality & the cute trick of the narrator being the grim reaper gets old the second time it appears. I cried at the end but possibly because I was also ready for death to swing past one last time.

Will I ever learn to read a synopsis before starting a book? No. I blame the dice roll that chose this from my burgeoning 'to read' pile. Lousy roll